Write a incident that you lost your purse around crowd
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The Day I Had My Purse Stolen, and Lessons Learned
DECEMBER 18, 2014
Whilst in Cusco the other day, a taxi driver made off with my purse, with everything – everything – in it. Here’s what happened, what I gained from being prepared, and what mistakes I made along the way.
Haggling With a Taxi Driver
After a day of shopping in Cusco with some friends, we were ready to take a taxi back to the spot where we could catch a colectivo(bus) to Pisac. We hopped into the first taxi we saw (taxis in Cusco are everywhere, but also fairly unregulated, marked by little more than red and white reflective stickers on the sides of private cars, and certainly without meters).
I was in the front seat; before shutting the door, I quickly confirmed with the driver (in Spanish) what the rate would be. To get just about anywhere in Cusco costs 3 soles (about $1). We were going a very short distance, so when he quoted us 4 soles and wouldn’t budge on his price even when I said I knew it should only cost 3 soles, we said thank you and got out of the taxi in search of a better rate.
At this point, you might say “Nora! It’s only 1 sol: a mere 40 cents! Was that such a big deal?” No. It’s not a big deal in the grander scheme of things (and in retrospect I traded 1 sol for a whole lot more). But on the principal of the matter, I don’t like to be ripped off just because I’m a foreigner. (See also: How Tourists Cripple Local Economies)
That’s When It Happened
So there we were, bolting out of one taxi and looking for the next. Less than a minute later, I realized in the hustle that my purse was gone. When I gathered my bags to leave the taxi, my purse must have slipped off my shoulder (whether or not aided by the taxi driver is unknown) and remained in the front seat.
“Oh my god – my purse is gone!” I said in a panic.
We looked to the taxi in question, screeching away from the curb. We ran after the taxi, which was quite evidently making a getaway, running through red lights. Four wheels are better than two legs, so in the end, the taxi got away.
I stood there on the busy street, shocked. I’ve never had my purse stolen or lost before (I’m usually so very careful). I couldn’t believe what happened. I searched my bags to see if my purse was somehow inside one of them, which of course it wasn’t.
I had just been robbed.
Mistake #1: I was careless with my purse in Cusco; a place where I’ve always felt very safe but where thefts are common. I should have had my purse strapped across my body instead of hanging off one shoulder.
Everything Was in My Purse
I took a mental tally of what was in my purse. Which was everything.
My wallet – containing both of my credit cards, my debit card, all my ID (except my passport – thank goodness), and all my cash (totalling about $250) – was gone.
Also of note in my purse was my smartphone/camera combo.
Mistake #2: I didn’t need to go to Cusco with all my cards, and I could have left some of my cash at home. Although normally I’m very attentive to diversification of belongings and not having everything in one place; again I had become too comfortable, and careless.
I was flabbergasted. I have nothing!Had I not been with friends that day, I would not even have known how to get back home (a 45 minute drive away). I had no phone to call anybody (nor did I know anybody’s phone number by heart anyway), and no cash to pay for a ride.
Blessing #1: I was with good friends, who were so supportive. They were even more upset than I was! They comforted me, paid my way back to Pisac, and even came over to make me dinner that night so I could spend my time on the phone dealing with cancelling cards etc.
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Blessing #2: I still had my computer and an internet connection with which I could make the necessary calls to get new cards.
DECEMBER 18, 2014
Whilst in Cusco the other day, a taxi driver made off with my purse, with everything – everything – in it. Here’s what happened, what I gained from being prepared, and what mistakes I made along the way.
Haggling With a Taxi Driver
After a day of shopping in Cusco with some friends, we were ready to take a taxi back to the spot where we could catch a colectivo(bus) to Pisac. We hopped into the first taxi we saw (taxis in Cusco are everywhere, but also fairly unregulated, marked by little more than red and white reflective stickers on the sides of private cars, and certainly without meters).
I was in the front seat; before shutting the door, I quickly confirmed with the driver (in Spanish) what the rate would be. To get just about anywhere in Cusco costs 3 soles (about $1). We were going a very short distance, so when he quoted us 4 soles and wouldn’t budge on his price even when I said I knew it should only cost 3 soles, we said thank you and got out of the taxi in search of a better rate.
At this point, you might say “Nora! It’s only 1 sol: a mere 40 cents! Was that such a big deal?” No. It’s not a big deal in the grander scheme of things (and in retrospect I traded 1 sol for a whole lot more). But on the principal of the matter, I don’t like to be ripped off just because I’m a foreigner. (See also: How Tourists Cripple Local Economies)
That’s When It Happened
So there we were, bolting out of one taxi and looking for the next. Less than a minute later, I realized in the hustle that my purse was gone. When I gathered my bags to leave the taxi, my purse must have slipped off my shoulder (whether or not aided by the taxi driver is unknown) and remained in the front seat.
“Oh my god – my purse is gone!” I said in a panic.
We looked to the taxi in question, screeching away from the curb. We ran after the taxi, which was quite evidently making a getaway, running through red lights. Four wheels are better than two legs, so in the end, the taxi got away.
I stood there on the busy street, shocked. I’ve never had my purse stolen or lost before (I’m usually so very careful). I couldn’t believe what happened. I searched my bags to see if my purse was somehow inside one of them, which of course it wasn’t.
I had just been robbed.
Mistake #1: I was careless with my purse in Cusco; a place where I’ve always felt very safe but where thefts are common. I should have had my purse strapped across my body instead of hanging off one shoulder.
Everything Was in My Purse
I took a mental tally of what was in my purse. Which was everything.
My wallet – containing both of my credit cards, my debit card, all my ID (except my passport – thank goodness), and all my cash (totalling about $250) – was gone.
Also of note in my purse was my smartphone/camera combo.
Mistake #2: I didn’t need to go to Cusco with all my cards, and I could have left some of my cash at home. Although normally I’m very attentive to diversification of belongings and not having everything in one place; again I had become too comfortable, and careless.
I was flabbergasted. I have nothing!Had I not been with friends that day, I would not even have known how to get back home (a 45 minute drive away). I had no phone to call anybody (nor did I know anybody’s phone number by heart anyway), and no cash to pay for a ride.
Blessing #1: I was with good friends, who were so supportive. They were even more upset than I was! They comforted me, paid my way back to Pisac, and even came over to make me dinner that night so I could spend my time on the phone dealing with cancelling cards etc.
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Blessing #2: I still had my computer and an internet connection with which I could make the necessary calls to get new cards.
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